Staff Software Engineer, Instacart
Order Quality
CA$221-245k
This role is eligible for a new hire equity grant as well as annual refresh grants.
Online grocery marketplace & grocery tech platform
Open for applications
Online grocery marketplace & grocery tech platform
1001+ employees
Open for applications
CA$221-245k
This role is eligible for a new hire equity grant as well as annual refresh grants.
1001+ employees
Company mission
To create a world where everyone has access to the food they love and have more time to enjoy it together.
Role
Who you are
- Bachelor's and/or Master's degree in Computer Science (CS) or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
- 10+ years of experience in building and managing scalable platform solutions
- Proven track record in leading the design, implementation, and deployment of high-scale, cross-functional systems
- Excellent technical communication skills with a capacity to work effectively with engineering teams and cross-functional units
- In-depth knowledge of systems architecture and service-oriented solutions
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions
- Demonstrated leadership in project management and engineer mentorship
Desirable
- Experience working with machine learning teams to support and implement data-driven applications
- Proficiency in Ruby and/or Golang
- Familiarity with large-scale e-commerce systems and real-time data processing
What the job involves
- As a Staff Software Engineer on the Order Quality team at Instacart, you'll be at the forefront of enhancing customer satisfaction in online grocery shopping
- Your work will directly impact millions of customers by ensuring accurate item availability, optimizing replacements, and providing real-time order updates
- This role offers an exciting opportunity to leverage your technical expertise to solve complex challenges and drive innovation in the rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape
- Lead the design, implementation, and deployment of high-scale, cross-functional systems that enhance customer satisfaction in online grocery shopping
- Collaborate closely with machine learning teams to develop and implement scalable software solutions that leverage data-driven insights
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement
- Advocate for and implement new technologies that can improve system resilience and efficiency
- Work cross-functionally to translate business requirements into robust technical solutions
- Contribute to maintaining Instacart's position as a leader in retail technology through innovative problem-solving and technical excellence
Our take
Instacart is an online grocery marketplace that operates a pick-up and delivery system in the US and Canada. Unlike standard grocery shopping, Instacart sends a “personal shopper” to your local store to buy your products, who then delivers them straight to your door on the same day via their own car. The company also supplies the Instacart Platform, with services for stores encompassing eCommerce, fulfilment, in-store, ads, and insights.
The increased modernization of society has meant more than ever that consumers are looking to buy their groceries online, making space for apps like Instacart to become daily life staples for years to come. Although the company must compete with other grocery store delivery services, such as Walmart’s own, it has expanded to cover large percentages of US and Canadian households, and is now aligned with over 900 retail banners across more than 75,000 locations.
Instacart's software offerings signify the company's focus on tech, designed to move it away from its dependence on the gig economy. To this end, the company has acquired FoodStorm, an order management system that powers end-to-end order-ahead and catering, integrating its technology into its enterprise suite. Despite an IPO in September 2023, market downturns have necessitated a 7% workforce cut in 2024, focused on middle management and creating a flatter organisational structure. With a new streamlined workforce, here's to hoping Instacart can maintain its momentum.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Funding (last 2 of 14 rounds)
Nov 2021
$232m
LATE VC
Mar 2021
$265m
LATE VC
Total funding: $2.9bn
Company benefits
- Wellness Tailored to You: Medical, dental, vision, retirement, life & disability coverage right alongside physical & mental wellness programs, memberships and stipends to keep you and your family feeling your best.
- Family Building Benefits: No matter where you are in your family journey, we support you. Our plans cover modern family planning for all. We offer leave for all parents, flexible working schedules and an active Parents@ community.
- Work From Home Stipend: We help outfit your WFH setup and offer reimbursements so you can be your most productive while at home.
- Flexible Time Off: We all recharge differently. Take the time you need with our flexible time off policy and company-wide Self-Checkouts where we encourage everyone to sign off.
- Learning & Development: Whether you're just starting your career or leading teams, we provide customized L&D programs to help you grow and an annual allowance to pursue your development.
- Future Planning: We have you covered as you plan for your future. 401(k) matching in the US and RRSP in Canada, student loan assistance through Peanut Butter, free Rocket Lawyer membership, SoFi & First Republic financial planning and more.
- Four Year Fill-Up: We encourage our tenured employees to take longer breaks and truly unplug by doing something they love – typically four consecutive weeks around the four year mark.
- Community Connection: Support the communities you care about with volunteer weeks and get involved with our social impact program, Instacart Serves.
- Instacart Express Membership: We help keep your fridge stocked. Unlock grocery discounts with our Instacart Beta app while testing our latest features.
Company values
- Go far together
- Roll up your sleeves
- Grow the pie
- Put it all on the table
- Serve generously
Company HQ
The East Cut, San Francisco, CA
Articles
Leadership
Apoorva Mehta
(Co-Founder & Chairman)Studied Electrical Engineering at University of Waterloo. Worked in Fulfillment Optimisation SDE at Amazon.com before going on to co-found Instacart.
Brandon Leonardo
(Co-Founder)Interned at Cisco Systems as an IT Engineer. Later became a Senior Web Developer at Webs and then a Venture Hacker at Angel List.
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